1934 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger
ManagersGeorge Gibson, Pie Traynor
← 1933 Seasons 1935 →

The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 53rd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 48th in the National League. The Pirates finished fifth in the league standings with a record of 74–76.

Regular season

The roster featured seven future Hall of Famers: player-manager Pie Traynor, pitcher Waite Hoyt, pitcher Burleigh Grimes, shortstop Arky Vaughan, outfielder Freddie Lindstrom, center fielder Lloyd Waner, and right fielder Paul Waner.

Season standings

National League 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 95 58 0.621 — 48–29 47–29
New York Giants 93 60 0.608 2 49–26 44–34
Chicago Cubs 86 65 0.570 8 47–30 39–35
Boston Braves 78 73 0.517 16 40–35 38–38
Pittsburgh Pirates 74 76 0.493 19½ 45–32 29–44
Brooklyn Dodgers 71 81 0.467 23½ 43–33 28–48
Philadelphia Phillies 56 93 0.376 37 35–36 21–57
Cincinnati Reds 52 99 0.344 42 30–47 22–52

Record vs. opponents

1934 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 16–6–1 12–10 15–7 7–15 14–8 9–11 5–16
Brooklyn 6–16–1 — 8–12 13–9 8–14 13–9 16–6 7–15
Chicago 10–12 12–8 — 14–8 11–10 13–9 14–8–1 12–10
Cincinnati 7–15 9–13 8–14 — 6–16 9–10 7–15 6–16–1
New York 15–7 14–8 10–11 16–6 — 15–7 14–8 9–13
Philadelphia 8–14 9–13 9–13 10–9 7–15 — 7–13 6–16
Pittsburgh 11–9 6–16 8–14–1 15–7 8–14 13–7 — 13–9
St. Louis 16–5 15–7 10–12 16–6–1 13–9 16–6 9–13 —


Game log

1934 Game Log: 74–76 (Home: 45–32; Away: 29–44)
April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Away: 3–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 17 @ Cardinals 1–7 Dean Meine (0–1) — — 0–1
2 April 18 @ Cardinals 7–6 French (1–0) Grimes Chagnon (1) — 1–1
3 April 19 @ Cardinals 14–4 Birkofer (1–0) Hallahan — — 2–1
4 April 21 @ Reds 3–8 Stout Swift (0–1) Shaute — 2–2
5 April 22 @ Reds 5–4 Smith (1–0) Shaute — — 3–2
6 April 24 Cardinals 5–4 Chagnon (1–0) Haines — 15,000 4–2
7 April 26 Cardinals 1–10 Hallahan Birkofer (1–1) — — 4–3
8 April 28 Reds 4–7 Frey Swift (0–2) Derringer — 4–4
9 April 29 Reds 9–5 Lucas (1–0) Shaute — 20,000 5–4
10 April 30 Cubs 6–8 (12) Bush French (1–1) — — 5–5
May: 15–11 (Home: 10–2; Away: 5–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
11 May 1 Cubs 4–1 Birkofer (2–1) Root — — 6–5
12 May 2 Cubs 4–2 Meine (1–1) Warneke — — 7–5
13 May 3 Giants 3–5 Bell Smith (1–1) — — 7–6
14 May 4 Giants 4–3 Lucas (2–0) Hubbell — — 8–6
15 May 5 Giants 6–3 Birkofer (3–1) Fitzsimmons — — 9–6
16 May 6 Dodgers 8–5 Meine (2–1) Leonard Hoyt (1) 12,000 10–6
17 May 7 Dodgers 7–6 (10) Chagnon (2–0) Leonard — — 11–6
18 May 8 Dodgers 5–2 Swift (1–2) Mungo — — 12–6
19 May 9 Phillies 2–6 Davis Lucas (2–1) — — 12–7
20 May 11 Phillies 6–4 (10) Hoyt (1–0) Collins — — 13–7
21 May 12 Phillies 11–6 Chagnon (3–0) Holley Hoyt (2) — 14–7
22 May 13 Braves 9–2 Smith (2–1) Brandt — 14,000 15–7
23 May 17 @ Dodgers 1–2 (10) Mungo Swift (1–3) — — 15–8
24 May 18 @ Dodgers 8–3 Birkofer (4–1) Perkins French (1) — 16–8
25 May 19 @ Dodgers 5–8 Herring Lucas (2–2) — — 16–9
26 May 20 @ Phillies 4–16 Davis Smith (2–2) Hansen — 16–10
27 May 21 @ Phillies 11–4 French (2–1) Pearce — — 17–10
28 May 22 @ Phillies 13–4 (7) Birkofer (5–1) Darrow — — 18–10
29 May 23 @ Braves 1–6 Frankhouse Meine (2–2) — — 18–11
30 May 24 @ Braves 7–3 Swift (2–3) Brandt — — 19–11
31 May 27 @ Giants 7–3 Lucas (3–2) Smith — 35,000 20–11
32 May 28 @ Giants 2–3 (11) Luque French (2–2) — — 20–12
33 May 28 @ Giants 0–1 Hubbell Birkofer (5–2) — — 20–13
34 May 30 @ Cubs 2–7 Warneke Meine (2–3) — — 20–14
35 May 30 @ Cubs 4–5 (11) Root French (2–3) — 40,000 20–15
36 May 31 @ Cubs 5–11 Bush Swift (2–4) — — 20–16
June: 14–13 (Home: 11–11; Away: 3–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
37 June 1 Cardinals 4–3 Hoyt (2–0) Hallahan — — 21–16
38 June 2 Cardinals 4–13 Dean Lucas (3–3) — — 21–17
39 June 2 Cardinals 6–3 French (3–3) Winford — — 22–17
40 June 3 Cardinals 4–2 Meine (3–3) Carleton Hoyt (3) — 23–17
41 June 6 @ Reds 3–1 Swift (3–4) Derringer — — 24–17
42 June 6 @ Reds 5–1 Birkofer (6–2) Frey — — 25–17
43 June 7 @ Reds 2–1 Lucas (4–3) Kleinhans — — 26–17
44 June 8 @ Cardinals 2–6 Carleton French (3–4) — — 26–18
45 June 10 @ Cardinals 2–3 Dean French (3–5) — — 26–19
46 June 12 Dodgers 7–9 Smythe Hoyt (2–1) — — 26–20
47 June 13 Dodgers 15–2 Swift (4–4) Herring — — 27–20
48 June 14 Dodgers 2–3 (10) Mungo Birkofer (6–3) — — 27–21
49 June 15 Dodgers 4–6 Zachary Lucas (4–4) — — 27–22
50 June 16 Giants 2–5 Hubbell Birkofer (6–4) — — 27–23
51 June 17 Giants 3–9 Bell Meine (3–4) Luque 10,000 27–24
52 June 19 Giants 3–5 Schumacher French (3–6) Hubbell — 27–25
53 June 20 Braves 6–5 Chagnon (4–0) Smith — — 28–25
54 June 21 Braves 1–4 Frankhouse Birkofer (6–5) — — 28–26
55 June 21 Braves 7–8 Mangum French (3–7) Smith — 28–27
56 June 22 Braves 7–6 Birkofer (7–5) Mangum — — 29–27
57 June 23 Braves 4–0 French (4–7) Brandt — — 30–27
58 June 24 Phillies 11–5 Hoyt (3–1) Lohrman — — 31–27
59 June 25 Phillies 7–1 Swift (5–4) Grabowski — — 32–27
60 June 26 Phillies 4–5 Collins Birkofer (7–6) — — 32–28
61 June 26 Phillies 4–2 (6) Lucas (5–4) Holley — — 33–28
62 June 27 Phillies 4–1 French (5–7) Davis — — 34–28
63 June 29 Cubs 8–8 (8) — — 34–28
64 June 30 Cubs 4–6 Lee Birkofer (7–7) — — 34–29
July: 11–19 (Home: 5–2; Away: 6–17)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
65 July 1 Cubs 5–4 Hoyt (4–1) Tinning — — 35–29
66 July 3 Reds 10–0 Lucas (6–4) Kleinhans — — 36–29
67 July 4 Reds 5–1 French (6–7) Johnson — — 37–29
68 July 4 Reds 3–4 Derringer Swift (5–5) — — 37–30
69 July 6 @ Cubs 1–9 Bush Hoyt (4–2) — 27,000 37–31
70 July 7 @ Cubs 2–4 Warneke Lucas (6–5) — — 37–32
71 July 8 @ Cubs 11–4 Birkofer (8–7) Lee — — 38–32
72 July 8 @ Cubs 3–12 Weaver Swift (5–6) — 47,138 38–33
73 July 11 @ Giants 2–3 Schumacher Hoyt (4–3) — — 38–34
74 July 12 @ Giants 3–1 French (7–7) Parmelee — — 39–34
75 July 12 @ Giants 1–11 Hubbell Birkofer (8–8) — — 39–35
76 July 13 @ Giants 6–7 Fitzsimmons Lucas (6–6) Smith — 39–36
77 July 14 @ Braves 4–3 (12) Swift (6–6) Smith — — 40–36
78 July 15 @ Braves 5–0 Hoyt (5–3) Rhem — — 41–36
79 July 15 @ Braves 0–4 Brandt Meine (3–5) — — 41–37
80 July 18 @ Braves 1–3 Frankhouse French (7–8) — — 41–38
81 July 18 @ Braves 5–7 Betts Holley (0–1) Brandt — 41–39
82 July 19 @ Dodgers 2–4 Leonard Swift (6–7) — — 41–40
83 July 21 @ Dodgers 7–8 Carroll Lucas (6–7) — — 41–41
84 July 22 @ Dodgers 2–3 Babich French (7–9) — — 41–42
85 July 22 @ Dodgers 10–13 Benge Holley (0–2) Leonard 15,000 41–43
86 July 23 @ Phillies 2–3 Moore Swift (6–8) — — 41–44
87 July 24 @ Phillies 0–9 Johnson Lucas (6–8) — — 41–45
88 July 26 @ Phillies 3–0 French (8–9) Collins — — 42–45
89 July 26 @ Phillies 3–5 Davis Smith (2–3) — — 42–46
90 July 27 Cardinals 4–0 Swift (7–8) Haines — — 43–46
91 July 28 Cardinals 5–4 Hoyt (6–3) Dean — — 44–46
92 July 29 Cardinals 5–9 Carleton Swift (7–9) Dean — 44–47
93 July 31 @ Reds 4–6 Kleinhans French (8–10) — — 44–48
94 July 31 @ Reds 7–5 (11) Hoyt (7–3) Freitas — 5,500 45–48
August: 14–16 (Home: 11–13; Away: 3–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
95 August 1 @ Reds 6–7 Derringer Chagnon (4–1) Johnson — 45–49
96 August 2 @ Reds 13–3 Lucas (7–8) Frey — — 46–49
97 August 3 @ Cardinals 3–9 Dean Hoyt (7–4) — — 46–50
98 August 4 @ Cardinals 4–6 Carleton French (8–11) Dean — 46–51
99 August 5 @ Cardinals 6–4 French (9–11) Dean — — 47–51
100 August 5 @ Cardinals 7–2 Hoyt (8–4) Hallahan — — 48–51
101 August 7 Cubs 4–1 Meine (4–5) Lee — — 49–51
102 August 8 Cubs 4–7 Malone Holley (0–3) Warneke — 49–52
103 August 8 Cubs 3–14 Bush Swift (7–10) — — 49–53
104 August 10 Reds 8–7 Meine (5–5) Derringer — — 50–53
105 August 11 Reds 3–4 Johnson French (9–12) Freitas — 50–54
106 August 11 Reds 8–3 Lucas (8–8) Kleinhans — — 51–54
107 August 12 Reds 9–6 Hoyt (9–4) Derringer — — 52–54
108 August 14 Giants 3–2 Hoyt (10–4) Hubbell — — 53–54
109 August 15 Giants 4–5 Fitzsimmons French (9–13) Smith — 53–55
110 August 15 Giants 4–3 Hoyt (11–4) Bell — 18,000 54–55
111 August 17 Giants 3–7 Parmelee Lucas (8–9) Smith — 54–56
112 August 17 Giants 3–8 Hubbell Meine (5–6) — — 54–57
113 August 18 Dodgers 2–6 Clark Grimes (0–1) — — 54–58
114 August 19 Dodgers 1–2 Benge Hoyt (11–5) — 3,000 54–59
115 August 20 Dodgers 6–2 Swift (8–10) Babich — — 55–59
116 August 21 Dodgers 5–9 Mungo French (9–14) Zachary — 55–60
117 August 23 Phillies 6–5 Meine (6–6) Davis — — 56–60
118 August 25 Phillies 4–1 Hoyt (12–5) Hansen — — 57–60
119 August 25 Phillies 8–12 Moore Swift (8–11) Collins — 57–61
120 August 26 Braves 5–8 Mangum Smith (2–4) Cantwell — 57–62
121 August 27 Braves 8–5 Birkofer (9–8) Smith Hoyt (4) — 58–62
122 August 28 Braves 3–5 Brandt Grimes (0–2) — — 58–63
123 August 29 Braves 0–11 Betts French (9–15) — — 58–64
124 August 29 Braves 7–0 Hoyt (13–5) Mangum — — 59–64
September: 15–12 (Home: 6–1; Away: 9–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
125 September 2 @ Reds 1–2 Derringer Birkofer (9–9) — — 59–65
126 September 2 @ Reds 11–4 Swift (9–11) Freitas — 10,147 60–65
127 September 3 Cardinals 12–2 French (10–15) Dean — — 61–65
128 September 3 Cardinals 6–5 Meine (7–6) Dean — — 62–65
129 September 5 @ Braves 8–2 Swift (10–11) Cantwell — — 63–65
130 September 6 @ Braves 4–1 Birkofer (10–9) Brandt — — 64–65
131 September 9 @ Giants 1–0 French (11–15) Fitzsimmons — 20,000 65–65
132 September 10 @ Giants 9–7 Grimes (1–2) Schumacher Birkofer (1) — 66–65
133 September 11 @ Giants 1–3 Parmelee Swift (10–12) — — 66–66
134 September 12 @ Giants 2–3 Hubbell Birkofer (10–10) — — 66–67
135 September 15 @ Phillies 6–1 French (12–15) Davis — — 67–67
136 September 15 @ Phillies 4–1 Hoyt (14–5) Hansen — — 68–67
137 September 18 @ Dodgers 4–9 Leonard Swift (10–13) — — 68–68
138 September 19 @ Dodgers 1–4 Mungo Birkofer (10–11) — — 68–69
139 September 19 @ Dodgers 4–8 Babich French (12–16) — — 68–70
140 September 20 @ Dodgers 1–2 Munns Hoyt (14–6) — — 68–71
141 September 21 Reds 9–3 Lucas (9–9) Richmond — — 69–71
142 September 21 Reds 16–3 Swift (11–13) Johnson — — 70–71
143 September 22 Cubs 2–1 Birkofer (11–11) Lee — — 71–71
144 September 22 Cubs 11–7 Smith (3–4) Tinning Hoyt (5) — 72–71
145 September 23 Cubs 2–3 Weaver Blanton (0–1) — — 72–72
146 September 25 @ Cardinals 2–3 Dean French (12–17) — — 72–73
147 September 26 @ Cardinals 3–0 Hoyt (15–6) Dean — — 73–73
148 September 27 @ Cubs 2–4 Lee Birkofer (11–12) — — 73–74
149 September 29 @ Cubs 6–3 Lucas (10–9) Weaver — — 74–74
150 September 30 @ Cubs 2–8 Warneke French (12–18) — — 74–75
151 September 30 @ Cubs 5–7 Bush Struss (0–1) — 10,000 74–76
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1934 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Earl Grace 95 289 78 .270 4 24
1B Gus Suhr 151 573 162 .283 13 103
2B Cookie Lavagetto 87 304 67 .220 3 46
3B Pie Traynor 119 444 137 .309 1 61
SS Arky Vaughan 149 558 186 .333 12 94
OF Paul Waner 146 599 217 .362 14 90
OF Lloyd Waner 140 611 173 .283 1 48
OF Freddie Lindstrom 97 383 111 .290 4 49

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Tommy Thevenow 122 446 121 .271 0 54
Woody Jensen 88 283 82 .290 0 27
Tom Padden 82 237 76 .321 0 22
Wally Roettger 47 106 26 .245 0 11
Pat Veltman 12 28 3 .107 0 2
Pep Young 19 17 4 .235 0 2
Bill Brubaker 3 6 2 .333 0 1
Hal Finney 5 0 0 ---- 0 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Larry French 49 263.2 12 18 3.58 103
Bill Swift 37 212.2 11 13 3.98 81
Red Lucas 29 172.2 10 9 4.38 44
Cy Blanton 1 8.0 0 1 3.38 5
Steamboat Struss 1 7.0 0 1 6.43 3

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Ralph Birkofer 41 204.0 11 12 4.10 71
Waite Hoyt 48 190.2 15 6 2.93 105
Heinie Meine 26 106.1 7 6 4.32 22
Hal Smith 20 50.0 3 4 7.20 15
Burleigh Grimes 8 27.1 1 2 7.24 9
Ed Holley 5 9.1 0 3 15.43 2

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Leon Chagnon 33 4 1 1 4.81 19
Bill Harris 11 0 0 0 6.63 8
Lloyd Johnson 1 0 0 0 0.00 0

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball
Level Team League Manager
A Little Rock Travelers Southern Association Doc Prothro
C Springfield Pirates Middle Atlantic League Al DeVormer and Rube Bressler
D McKeesport Tubers Pennsylvania State Association Leo Mackey

References

  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
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